Ghana–Togo Mountain languages
Ghana–Togo Mountain languages
| Ghana–Togo Mountain languages | |
|---|---|
| Togo Remnant, Central Togo | |
| Geographicdistribution | Ivory Coast,Ghana, andTogo |
| Linguistic classification | Niger–Congo |
| Subdivisions | |
| Glottolog | |
The Ghana–Togo Mountain languages, formerly called Togorestsprachen (Togo Remnant languages) and Central Togo languages, form a grouping of about fourteen languages spoken in the mountains of the Ghana–Togo borderland. They are part of the Kwa branch of the Niger–Congo family.
| Ghana–Togo Mountain languages | |
|---|---|
| Togo Remnant, Central Togo | |
| Geographicdistribution | Ivory Coast,Ghana, andTogo |
| Linguistic classification | Niger–Congo |
| Subdivisions | |
| Glottolog | |
History of classification
Bernhard Struck, in 1912, was the first to group together these languages under the label Semibantu von Mitteltogo. Westermann, in his classification of the then Sudanic languages, adopted the grouping but called it Togorestsprachen.[3] This was mainly a loose geographical-typological grouping based on the elaborate noun class systems of the languages; lack of comparative data prevented a more definitive phylogenetic classification. Bernd Heine (1968) carried out comparative research among the group, establishing a basic division between Ka-Togo and Na-Togo based on the word for 'flesh' in the languages. Dakubu and Ford (1988) renamed this cluster the Central Togo languages, a term still used by some (e.g. Blench 2001); since the mid-90s, the term Ghana–Togo Mountain languages has become more common.
No comparative study of the languages has appeared in print since Heine (1968); Blench (unpublished) presented a tentative reclassification of the group in 2001, noting the internal diversity of the grouping.
It is still unclear whether the grouping forms a branch on its own within Kwa.[4]
Features
A much noted characteristic of these languages is their typical Niger–Congo noun class system, since in many surrounding languages only remnants of such a system are found.
All Ghana–Togo Mountain languages are tonal and most have a nine or ten vowel system employing ATR vowel harmony. Both Ewe and Twi, the dominant regional languages, have exerted considerable influence on many GTM languages.
Languages
| English names | Autonyms | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| People | Language | ||
| Na | Adele | Bidire | Gidire |
| Anii, Basila | |||
| Giseme, Akpe | |||
| Logba | Akpanawò | Ikpana | |
| Lelemi, Buem | Lε-lεmi | ||
| Lefana, Buem | Lε-fana | ||
| Siwu-Lolobi, Akpafu | sg. Ɔwu, pl. Mawu | Siwu | |
| Likpe | sg. Ɔkpεlá, pl. Bakpεlá | Sεkpεlé | |
| Santrokofí | sg. Ɔlɛɛ, pl. Balɛɛ | Sεlεε | |
| Ka | Avatime | Ke-dane-ma | Sì-yà |
| Nyangbo | Batrugbu | Tùtrùgbù | |
| Tafi | Bàgbɔ̀ | Tɛ̀gbɔ̀ | |
| Ikposo | Akpɔsɔ | Ikpɔsɔ | |
| Bowiri, Tora | Bawuli | Tuwuli | |
| Ahlon | Igo | ||
| Akebu | Ǝkpǝǝβǝ | Kɨkpǝǝkǝ | |
| Animere | Animere | ||
Classification of GTM languages
Heine (1968) placed the GTM languages into two branches of Kwa, Na-Togo and Ka-Togo:
Na-Togo 1. Lelemi Siwu (Akpafu–Lolobi) Likpe Santrokofi (Sεlεε) 2. Logba 3. Adele Basila (Anii)
Ka-Togo 1. Avatime Nyangbo-Tafi 2. Ahlo (Igo) Bowili Kposo 3. Animere Akebu
However, this classification was distorted by influence from Ewe on the one hand and Twi on the other.
Blench (2006) makes the following tentative classification, which he expects to change as more data becomes available.
One branch each of the Na and Ka languages are split off.
As with Heine's classification, these may be independent branches of Kwa:
Na-Togo (reduced) 1. Lelemi Siwu (Akpafu–Lolobi) Likpe Santrokofi 2. Logba
Anii–Adere Adele Basila (Anii)
Ka-Togo (reduced) 1. Avatime Nyangbo-Tafi Bowili 2. Ahlo Kposo
Kebu–Animere Animere Akebu
Ethnologue also lists Agotime, which they note is similar to Ahlo.
See also
Boro language (Ghana), an extinct and scarcely attested language from the area that may be Na-Togo
List of Proto-Central Togo reconstructions (Wiktionary)